Avalanche risk high in northern, central Colorado mountains

Snowshoers and ski tourers explore the old mining ruins in Mayflower Gulch on Tuesday in Summit County. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the risk of avalanches ranges from high in the mountain backcountry in the Vail and Summit County areas and the Front Range mountains to considerable in the Aspen and Steamboat Spring regions.

Chris Dillmann/Vail Daily via AP

DENVER – The risk of avalanches is elevated in Colorado’s northern and central mountains after up to 3 feet of snow fell in the last week.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says naturally occurring slides will be less likely Wednesday but it will be easy for people to trigger avalanches there.

The new snow is resting on top of a weak snowpack created by a long period without snow and unseasonably warm weather.

The risk of avalanches is low in southwestern Colorado, which has been bypassed by the recent storms. The snowpack there is only 25 percent of average, compared with 62 percent of average in the state overall.

Avalanche risk high in northern, central Colorado mountains

Snowshoers and ski tourers explore the old mining ruins in Mayflower Gulch on Tuesday in Summit County. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says the risk of avalanches ranges from high in the mountain backcountry in the Vail and Summit County areas and the Front Range mountains to considerable in the Aspen and Steamboat Spring regions.